Champions Cup

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Champions Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

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Five South African clubs enter Europe next season

2 June 2022 1 comment

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup organisers have announced five South African club sides will play in European competition next season. The Stormers, Bulls and Sharks, […]

La Rochelle keep their cool to rule in Europe

29 May 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………..21pts Penalties: Sexton 5, 8, 22, 40+1, 47, 57 R Byrne 65 La Rochelle ……24pts Tries: Rhule 10, Bourgarit 60, Retiere […]

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe fit for Champions Cup final against La Rochelle

27 May 2022 0 comments

Leinster‘s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe have been passed fit to start Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Marseille. The pair’s fitness […]

Late Ihaia West try sends La Rochelle to Champions Cup final

15 May 2022 0 comments

A late Ihaia West try ended Racing 92’s stiff resistance as La Rochelle booked their place in a second successive Champions Cup final. Ronan O’Gara’s […]

Sexton leads the way as Leinster gun for fifth star

15 May 2022 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………40pts Tries: Lowe 15, 50; Van der Flier 20, Keenan 79 Conversions: Sexton 16, 21, 52; Byrne 80 Penalties: Sexton 5, […]

Alex Sanderson: Reduction of Premiership salary cap making it harder for English teams to compete in Europe

9 May 2022 0 comments

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson feels the reduction of the Premiership salary cap is making it harder for English teams to compete in […]

Finn Russell stars as Racing 92 overcome Sale Sharks to reach Champions Cup semis

8 May 2022 1 comment

Racing 92 (6) 41 Tries: Thomas, Russell, Imhoff, Spring Cons: Le Garrec 2, Machenaud Pens: Le Garrec 5 Sale Sharks (10) 22 Tries: Tuilagi, Van der Merwe, B Curry Cons: Du Preez 2 Pens: Du […]

Heartbreak for Munster as Toulouse keep their nerve in shootout

8 May 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ………… 24pts Tries: Kendellen 10, Earls 39, Haley 44 Conversions: Carbery 11, 40, 45 Penalties: Carbery 57 Toulouse ….. …..24pts Tries: […]

Too slow to get going – Baxter

17 April 2022 1 comment

ROB Baxter said that Munster’s dominance at the breakdown was the key factor in their Thomond Park victory which sent Exeter Chiefs crashing out of […]

Unstoppable Lowe hits four as Leinster flex muscles

17 April 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………56pts Tries: Lowe 36, 55, 65, 80; Henshaw 18, 42, Gibson-Park 10, Furlong 28 Conversions: Sexton 12, 19, 29, 37, 43, […]

Sale survive Reed red to squeeze life out of Bears

17 April 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bristol …………….29pts Tries: Thacker 48, Morahan 53, 77; Joyce 64 Conversions: Sheedy 48, 53, 64 Penalties: Sheedy 19 Sale ………………..35pts Tries: De […]

Dupont makes the difference for Toulouse as Ulster push champions all the way

17 April 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Ulster ………………23pts Tries: McIlroy 10, 38 Conversions: Cooney 11, 39 Penalties: Cooney 18, 53, 69 Toulouse ……….30pts Tries: Ramos 21, Ntamack 26, […]

Sharks feel they can beat anyone

17 April 2022 0 comments

SALE director of rugby Alex Sanderson was ecstatic with his side’s effort and believes they can be a match for any team in this year’s […]

O’Gara sees La Rochelle finish the job in fine style

17 April 2022 0 comments

By TIM LEWIS La Rochelle ……31pts Tries: West 42, Alldritt 48, Kerr-Barlow 55, Botia 68 Conversions: West 42, 49, 56, 69 Penalties: West 21 Bordeaux […]

High-flying Tigers set up Leinster showdown

17 April 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Leicester ……….27pts Tries: Liebenberg 9, Scott 50, Penalty 52, Steward 67 Conversions: Ford 10 Penalties: Ford 46 Tries: Raka 55, Lee 69 […]

Potter: We left a few tries out there

17 April 2022 0 comments

HARRY Potter claimed Tigers are keeping their feet on the ground and not yet dreaming of ending a 20-year wait to be crowned European club […]

Smith’s miss leaves Quins a point short

17 April 2022 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ……..33pts Tries: Jones 1, Dombrandt 16, Marchant 29, Lynagh 38, 75 Conversions: Smith 2, 17, 30, 39 Montpellier ……20pts Tries: […]

Matson: Now we go for the Prem

17 April 2022 1 comment

QUINS head coach Tabai Matson backed his side to bounce back at Leicester next week. “Marcus will be disappointed like all the players who have […]

O’Mahony the star as Exeter fall short

17 April 2022 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Munster …………26pts Tries: Carbery 26, De Allende 72 Conversions: Carbery 26, 74 Penalties: Carbery 6, 17, 60, 65 Exeter …………….10pts Tries: S […]

Racing look to take the Paris honours

17 April 2022 1 comment

PREVIEW… Racing 92 v Stade Francais Today. Kick-off 3.30pm, La Defense Arena RACING 92 head into their Round of 16 second leg against Stade Français […]

Harlequins make one change as they aim to claw back 14-point deficit in crunch Champions Cup second leg

15 April 2022 0 comments

Harlequins have made one change as they look to claw back a fourteen-point deficit in the second leg of their Champions Cup last 16 tie […]

Ellis Genge leads Leicester to historic first leg victory at Clermont

10 April 2022 0 comments

Leicester Tigers claimed a first leg away win at Clermont Auvergne to take a stride towards the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals. After an early Clermont […]

Baloucoune hat-trick leaves Toulouse up against it

10 April 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Toulouse ……….20pts Tries: Meafou 6, Ntamack 80 Conversions: Ramos 7, Ntamack 80 Penalties: Ramos 17, 40 Ulster ………………26pts Tries: Baloucoune 12, 44, […]

Proud of the boys-Lam

10 April 2022 0 comments

BRISTOL director of rugby Pat Lam was proud of the guts his side showed. He said: “I’m pleased with that and proud of the boys. […]

Connacht believe upset still possible at the Aviva

10 April 2022 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……….21pts Tries: Porch 3, Fifita 61 Conversions: Carty 62 Penalties: Carty 34, 40, 46 Leinster …………26pts Tries: Lowe 23, 27; Keenan […]

Super Fickou gives Racing upper hand as Latu sees red

10 April 2022 1 comment

By KEVIN FALLON Stade Fr …………..9pts Penalties: Segonds 38, 40; Sanchez 71 Racing 92 ……..22pts Tries: Fickou 64 Conversions: Le Garrec 65 Penalties: Le Garrec […]

Hogg helps Chiefs take first blood

10 April 2022 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter …………….13pts Tries: Hogg 6, Vermeulen 38 Drop goals: Hogg 65 Munster …………..8pts Tries: Daly 66 Penalties: Healy 57 THE Chiefs will […]

Quins aim to take Mercer’s boys out of their comfort zone

10 April 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Montpellier v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 1pm, GGL Stadium AS soon as England head coach Eddie Jones said ahead of the Six […]

Baxter backs spirit in defence

10 April 2022 0 comments

ROB Baxter questioned Olly Woodburn’s yellow card. He said: “I’m never really one to try and find fault with the process but that happens 20 […]

Genge fired up for next round of French hostilities

10 April 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Clermont v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Marcel Michelin ELLIS Genge can’t wait to sample the atmosphere inside the Stade Marcel […]

Last year’s runners-up show title credentials

10 April 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Bordeaux ……….13pts Tries: Woki 51, Mori 68 Penalties: Lucu 11 La Rochelle ……31pts Tries: Rhule 21, Danty 53, Penalty 64 Conversions: West […]

Radradra comes to the rescue for Bristol

10 April 2022 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sale ………………….9pts Penalties: R du Preez 4, 9, 77 Bristol …………….10pts Tries: Radradra 70 Conversions: Sheedy 71 Penalties: Sheedy 25 Deadeye: Robert […]

Scarlets’ Kalamafoni escapes ban

7 April 2022 0 comments

Scarlets number eight Sione Kalamafoni will not serve a suspension after being sent off against Cardiff in the URC. Kalamafoni was shown a red card […]

Ellis Genge relishing trip to Clermont as Tigers turn attention to Europe

6 April 2022 0 comments

Leicester captain Ellis Genge is relishing Tigers’ trip to Clermont Auvergne as his side shift their focus to Europe after wrapping up a spot in […]

Rob Baxter calls for Exeter to maximise opportunities for ‘couple of golden years’ after double

6 April 2022 1 comment

Rob Baxter has called for his Exeter side to maximise their opportunities for “a couple of golden years” following the clubs most successful period. Baxter […]

Sale 49 – 10 Ospreys: Sale handsomely defeat depleted Ospreys

23 January 2022 0 comments

Sale Sharks…………49 Tries: Roebuck 2, Reed, Ashman, D du Preez, Langdon, Metcalf Cons: MacGinty 4, R du Preez 3 Ospreys ……………..10 Try: Deaves Cons: Hawkins Pens: Hawkins A stellar seven tries for Sale […]

Leinster rout can devalue Euro Cup

23 January 2022 1 comment

COLIN BOAG Thrashing: Josh van der Flier evades the tackle of Josua Vici on his way to scoring Leinster’s ninth try I know there’s a […]

Bristol’s late try flood makes Peel despair

23 January 2022 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Scarlets …………21pts Tries: Elias 23, McNicholl 60 Conversions: Patchell 24 Penalties: Patchell 7, 30, 44 Bristol …………….52pts Tries: Radradra 12, 80; Lloyd […]

Lam: Cup win is on if we’re ruthless

23 January 2022 0 comments

PAT Lam insists Bristol can be serious contenders for the Champions Cup if they improve their accuracy. The former Connacht coach was speaking after his […]

Humiliation for Bath as Sexton spurs 10-try rout

23 January 2022 1 comment

By ADAM HATHAWAY Bath ………………….7pts Try: Clark 33 Conversion: Bailey 34 Leinster …………64pts Tries: O’Brien 15, 36, 48, 76; Van der Flier 24, Larmour 31, […]

Hatley: We can’t go any lower

23 January 2022 0 comments

BATH head coach Neal Hatley said his side could never get any lower after this ten-try home hammering. Hatley revealed the Bath dressing room was […]

French power pack leaves Warriors on the cusp

23 January 2022 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow …………30pts Tries: McKay 41, Smith 75, 80 Conversions: Thompson 42, Weir 75, 80 Penalties: Thompson 10, 26, 33 La Rochelle ……38pts […]

Lowry shows his class for Ulster

23 January 2022 3 comments

By JOHN FALLON Ulster………………34pts Tries: Herring 8, 39; Lowry 22, Vermeulen 50, Baloucoune 67 Conversions: Doak 40, 51, Burns 67 Penalties: Doak 46 Clermont…………31pts Tries: […]

Hat-trick Alex looks ‘a must’ for Eddie

23 January 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Harlequins ……..36pts Tries: Dombrandt 13, 42, 80; Jones 22, Taulani 27 Conversions: Allan 22, 28, 43; Smith 80 Penalties: Allan 39 Castres […]

Winning try was difficult to take says Castres boss Worsley

23 January 2022 0 comments

CASTRES coach Joe Worsley felt the winning try could easily have been ruled out with several replays needed before Scottish referee Mike Adamson awarded it […]

Gym before Guinness now for Cowan-Dickie

23 January 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Montpellier v Exeter Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, Stade de la Mosson LUKE Cowan-Dickie is expecting Exeter to face a fired-up Montpellier today […]

Bundee’s out after his moan at referee

23 January 2022 0 comments

Preview Stade Francais v Connacht Today, Kick-off 1pm CONNACHT have qualified for the Champions Cup’s knockout stages for the first time after Cardiff were handed […]

Wasps take a French lesson in tackle law

23 January 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Munster v Wasps Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Thomond Park WASPS have focused on the breakdown ahead of today’s visit to Thomond Park […]